Breakroom, cleaning & safety
In short
Best overall: Clipper Fairtrade Everyday Tea Bags (440 Pack), £15.72 at UK Office Direct Limited. Best value: Belgravia High-Ground Blend Coffee Beans 1kg (100% Arabica), £15.54. Premium pick: Fairy Professional Platinum AIO Dishwasher Capsules x113 (Pack 2), £42.24.
Across the 545 matching listings we screened from 2 UK suppliers, most cost £14–£40 and the middle price is £25. Prices checked 27 October 2026.
Stocking the office kitchen is a regular cost that is easy to overspend on. The aim is simple: enough of what people drink, bought in the right pack sizes, with no surprises on tax or VAT.
This shortlist covers tea, instant coffee, beans and capsules in bulk packs from UK trade catalogues. The notes below help you work out quantities and answer the tax questions finance will ask.
| # | Product | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best overall Clipper Fairtrade Everyday Tea Bags (440 Pack) | £15.72 | Details |
| 2 | Lavazza Tierra La Reserva Selection Coffee Beans 1kg | £19.35 | Details |
| 3 | Tassimo Kenco Americano Grande Coffee 144g Capsules (5 Packs of 16) | £28.63 | Details |
| 4 | L'Or Nespresso Onyx Capsules (40 Pack) 4019265 | £15.94 | Details |
| 5 | Kenco Smooth Instant Coffee Sticks 1.8g (200 Pack) | £23.28 | Details |
| 6 | Starbucks White Mocha Instant Coffee Sachets 5x22g - PACK (6) | £19.30 | Details |
| 7 | Premium pick Fairy Professional Platinum AIO Dishwasher Capsules x113 (Pack 2) | £42.24 | Details |
| 8 | Best value Belgravia High-Ground Blend Coffee Beans 1kg (100% Arabica) | £15.54 | Details |
1 · Best overall
Clipper · Sold by UK Office Direct Limited
Fairtrade certified. 100% organic. Soil Association certified, guaranteed free of chemicals. Provides a delicious cup of tea, great throughout the day. Blended from African, Sri-Lankan and Indian leaves. Pack of 440.
2
Lavazza · Sold by UK Office Direct Limited
Made of durable white porcelain, and features the iconic blue Lavazza label.. The thick walled porcelain is presented in elegant white and comes out of the Blu collection.. Made in Italy. Understated Stylish. Ideal for cappuccino..
3
Tassimo · Sold by UK Office Direct Limited
Kenco Americano Grande coffee capsule for use with Tassimo coffee machines. For a delicious cup of coffee at home or at work. Expertly roasted with a rich aroma. 16 x 144g capsules per pack (80 capsules in total). Pack of 5.
4
L'Or · Sold by UK Office Direct Limited
Capsules for Nespresso coffee machines. Premium, dark roasted espresso with bitter cocoa notes. Finely ground Arabica and Robusta beans. Intensity rating: 12. Pack of 40.
5
Kenco · Sold by UK Office Direct Limited
Individually wrapped, quality coffee. Just add boiling water for an easy drink. Individual sachets for the perfect portion. Sealed packets guarantee freshness. Supplied in a pack of 200.
6
Starbucks · Sold by UK Office Direct Limited
Premium instant coffee. Inspired by the Starbucks® Caffe¨ Mocha you love. Delicious rich and chocolatey combination of coffee, dairy milk and cocoa.
7 · Premium pick
Fairy · Sold by UK Office Direct Limited
Fairy Professional Platinum AIO Dishwasher Capsules x113 Capsules (Pack of 2) PGP261. All-in-one dishwasher capsules. Targets cleaning immediately upon cycle start. Helps maintain optimal machine and hygiene compliance.
8 · Best value
Belgravia · Sold by UK Office Direct Limited
Typica. Caturra. Kona. Pacamara. Villalobos. Robusta has more caffeine. Arabica has almost twice the amount of sugar. Robusta has less acidity.
Start with headcount and an estimate of drinks per person per day. Batch Coffee's office calculator, for example, assumes about two cups of coffee per person per day. Multiply by working days in your order cycle and split it between tea, coffee and decaf based on what your team drinks.
Order to the format your kit uses. Beans suit bean-to-cup machines, capsules must match your machine system exactly, and sticks or sachets suit kitchens with only a kettle or boiler.
HMRC's exemption for meals and light refreshments applies where they are provided on the employer's premises and are available to all employees, or all employees at a particular location. HMRC's manual says the exemption applies to light refreshments as it does to meals.
On VAT, gov.uk says food and drink for human consumption is usually zero-rated, while catering and hot takeaway food are standard-rated. For the detail on specific products, see VAT Notice 701/14.
Some bulk teas and coffees carry Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance marks, but not always across a whole range. Ringtons, for example, names Fairtrade on specific items. If your company reports on sustainable purchasing, check that the exact pack you buy carries the mark, not just the brand.
On our shortlist, the Clipper Fairtrade Everyday Tea Bags (440 Pack) is the best overall pick at £15.72 from UK Office Direct Limited. For a tighter budget, the Belgravia High-Ground Blend Coffee Beans 1kg (100% Arabica) (£15.54) is our best-value choice.
Most of the 545 UK listings we screened sit between £14 and £40, with a middle price of £25. Trade suppliers often show prices before VAT, so add 20% if you can't reclaim it.
A VAT-registered business can usually reclaim the VAT on equipment bought for business use, as long as it holds a valid VAT invoice from the supplier. Ask the seller for one at checkout.
The picks here come from UK Office Direct Limited. Most UK trade suppliers offer next-day delivery and VAT invoices; some offer credit accounts for regular orders.
A common planning figure is about two cups per person per day, which is what Batch Coffee's office calculator assumes. Adjust it after your first month's order.
Generally not, where the drinks are provided on your premises and available to all staff. HMRC's exemption covers light refreshments as well as meals.
Food and drink for human consumption is usually zero-rated, though some items are standard-rated. Check VAT Notice 701/14 for specific products.